February 21, 2025
Contact: press@justice4survivors.com, (203) 641-6681
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALBANY, NY – The New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Child Victims Act plaintiffs this week, determining that survivors of childhood sex abuse were able to file claims from the day the CVA took effect on Feb. 14, 2019, rather than the previously held ruling that claims could only be filed during a two-year period beginning on Aug. 14 of that same year. This decision expands the eligibility window for CVA lawsuits and validates claims filed during the six-month waiting period between February and August of 2019.
School districts and other institutions had previously attempted to dismiss CVA claims that were filed during the six-month window between the day the law took effect and August of 2019. This decision from the New York High Court will give more survivors a chance at justice.
In response to this ruling, the Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation (“CJCC”) – an independent alliance of survivors of child sex abuse, their representatives, and advocates seeking full restitution for survivors of child sex abuse – released the following statement:
“We applaud the New York Court of Appeals decision to expand eligibility to child sexual abuse survivors who filed claims immediately after the landmark Child Victims Act went into effect,” said Dave Catalfamo, Executive Director of the CJCC. “This ruling sends a strong message to school districts and other powerful institutions attempting to escape their legal obligations under the CVA – it’s time to stop fighting against survivors and start resolving their claims.”
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The Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation (“CJCC”) is an independent alliance of survivors of child sex abuse, their representatives, and advocates seeking full restitution for survivors of child sex abuse. Among members of the coalition are author and journalist Stephen Jimenez, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and longtime advocate who helped pass the Child Victims Act (CVA), and attorneys James Marsh, Founding Partner at Marsh Law Firm and Hillary Nappi, Partner at Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie, who represent thousands of sexual abuse survivors in litigation against public and private entities.